Comparison

DeadVault vs WeTransfer

WeTransfer is great for sending design files to a colleague. It was never meant for tax returns, legal documents, or anything with a Social Security number in it.

If you\'re using WeTransfer\'s free plan for client documents: files are not encrypted at rest, links have no access controls, and there\'s no audit trail. This likely does not meet IRS Pub 4557, GLBA, or HIPAA requirements.

Feature comparison

FeatureWeTransferDeadVault
Primary purposeLarge file sendingSecure file delivery
Encryption at rest✕AES-256-GCM
Encryption in transitTLSTLS
Per-file encryption keys✕✓
Automatic file destruction7-day expiryCustom deadline
Cryptographic erasure✕✓
Payment gates✕✓
Access controls (PIN)Pro only✓
Audit trail✕✓
Branded portalPro only✓
File upload from recipients✕✓
Starting priceFree (2 GB)$19/mo

Why WeTransfer isn't built for this

WeTransfer is a consumer file transfer tool. Here's why that matters when the files are sensitive.

WeTransfer free links are public by default

On the free plan, anyone with the link can download the files. There's no password protection, no access controls, no audit trail. If that link gets forwarded, shared, or indexed. Your client's tax return is public. WeTransfer Pro adds password protection, but the free tier has none.

No encryption at rest on WeTransfer's free plan

WeTransfer encrypts files in transit with TLS, but files stored on their servers on the free plan are not encrypted at rest. Your client's W-2 sits on WeTransfer's infrastructure in readable form for up to 7 days. A breach during that window exposes the raw file.

No audit trail of who accessed what

WeTransfer tells you that a file was downloaded, but not by whom, from what IP, or how many times. For a CPA or attorney who needs to demonstrate compliance, there's no usable record. If the IRS or bar association asks who accessed a document, "someone clicked the link" isn't sufficient.

7-day window with no control

WeTransfer free links expire after 7 days. You can't extend them, shorten them, or revoke them early. You can't set a custom deadline aligned with your retention policy. And after those 7 days, the files are simply deleted, no cryptographic erasure, no proof of destruction.

Where WeTransfer is the right choice

WeTransfer is great at what it was designed for.

✓Free tier for casual file sending (up to 2 GB)
✓Extremely simple, no account needed to send
✓Beautiful design and user experience
✓Widely recognized brand: recipients trust the link
✓Good for creative file handoffs (design files, video, photos)

Common questions

For the free plan: yes. No encryption at rest, no access controls, no audit trail, and a public link that anyone can access. For a CPA handling SSNs and financial data, this creates real liability. IRS Publication 4557 requires encryption and access controls for taxpayer data, WeTransfer's free plan provides neither.
WeTransfer Pro ($12/month) adds password protection, custom expiry dates, and encryption at rest. It's a meaningful improvement over the free plan. But it still lacks per-file encryption keys, cryptographic erasure, payment gates, audit trails with IP logging, bidirectional file exchange, and branded client portals. If you're already paying, the gap to DeadVault ($19/month) is small for significantly more security.
WeTransfer does not sign Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) and does not market itself as HIPAA compliant. If you're handling protected health information, WeTransfer is not an appropriate tool. DeadVault offers BAAs on Enterprise plans.
No. WeTransfer is one-way. You send files to recipients. There's no way for clients to upload files back to you through WeTransfer. DeadVault supports bidirectional exchange: send documents to clients and collect documents from them through the same encrypted portal.
DeadVault's client experience is just as simple: click a link, upload or download. No account required, no app to install. The difference is what happens behind the scenes: AES-256-GCM encryption, per-file keys, cryptographic erasure, and a full audit trail. Your clients won't notice the difference. Your compliance posture will.

Upgrade from free to secure

Same simplicity your clients are used to. Real encryption underneath. Set up in under 2 minutes.

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